Research

Project Title:
Detection of Effects of Microwave Radiation on The Electrical Activity
of The Brain

Start Date:
July 2003

Expected Date of Completion:
December 2004

Cost:
£100,000

Research Team:

Principal Investigator:

Dr Stuart Butler

Contact Details:

Burden Neurological Institute
Bristol
UK

Project Team:

Professor Alan Preece

Expertise:

Professor Alan Preece and his
colleagues have been conducting research into the biological effects of
electromagnetic radiation for many years and they were the first to report
an effect of mobile phone radiation on mental activity. Dr Stuart Butler
is a neurophysiologist who specialises in recording the electrical activity
of the brain for the investigation of normal cerebral function and the
diagnosis of neurological disorders.

Approach:

We were the first to report an effect of radiation from mobile phones
on human behaviour: reaction time was speeded up in the performance of
a task that depended on parts of the brain closest to the aerial. A number
of studies have since confirmed this finding and reported other beneficial
effects including improved memory and attention. These phenomena are
unexpected. The only known effect of microwave radiation on the brain
is to raise its temperature and the emissions from mobile phones are
restricted to a level that has a negligible effect on brain temperature.
This study is designed to find out what microwave radiation is doing
to the brain to cause the observed effects on behaviour.

The electrical activity of the brain will be recorded (from electrodes
on the scalp) while volunteer subjects experience visual and auditory
stimuli and undertake a number of mental tasks. At the same time they
will be exposed to transmissions from a TETRA handset. TETRA is the new
mobile telecommunication system for the public services which, like GSM
mobile phones, relies on microwave radiation. The recordings should reveal
any changes in the way the brain processes sensory inputs or in the electrophysiological
activity underlying cognitive processes. In addition, the study will
look at whether bursts of microwave radiation alter the timing of nerve
impulses in the brain. If bursts of radiation reduce reaction time by
synchronising the discharge of action potentials in the cerebral cortex,
they will evoke electrical potentials that can be detected in recordings
from the scalp.

Potential Difficulties:

We may need to take special precautions to prevent electrical interference
from the microwave radiation source on the sensitive recording equipment
used to detect the electrical activity of the brain.

Importance:

There is currently no explanation for the observation that radiation
from mobile phones has effects on mental activity. The study should reveal
how the radiation affects the activity of the brain. This knowledge is
essential for an understanding of physiological mechanisms responsible
for the effects on cognitive processes and any associated health risks.